Shreveport Man Arrested for Allegedly Providing Firearm Used in Mass Shooting
Charles Ford, 56, faces federal charges for allegedly supplying the firearm used by Shamar Elkins in a mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of eight children in Shreveport.
A Shreveport man has been arrested in connection with the mass shooting that claimed the lives of eight children in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. Charles Ford, 56, faces federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and making false statements to federal agents. These charges relate to the firearm allegedly used by Shamar Elkins, 31, in the April 19 incident.
According to court documents, Ford, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, initially denied having the weapon when questioned by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). He later admitted to possessing the gun, stating he believed Elkins had taken it from his vehicle. Ford claimed he confronted Elkins about the missing firearm but did not pursue the matter further after Elkins became confrontational.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Words fall short in the face of the acts Shamar Elkins perpetrated in Shreveport on April 19—they are beyond comprehension or description. Our law enforcement partners are investigating every angle of how this tragedy came to occur, and this case arises from that investigation—in particular, how Elkins secured a firearm that he used to execute his own children." He added that while Elkins' death means he will not face justice, holding accountable those who facilitated his access to the firearm may provide some solace to the community.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson underscored the agency's commitment to addressing illegal firearm possession and use, stating, "Holding people accountable does not stop with the person who pulled the trigger but also includes those who give access to and proliferate firearms that are later used in violent crime."
Ford faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearm possession charge and up to five years for making false statements to federal agents.
The mass shooting occurred on April 19, when Elkins allegedly used the firearm to kill eight children, seven of whom were his own, and injure two women. Elkins died following a confrontation with law enforcement after a police pursuit; it remains unclear whether he died by police gunfire or suicide.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and how Elkins obtained the firearm is ongoing.